Device to temporarily convert a standard chain swing into a toddler swing.

ABSTRACT

This invention clasps onto a standard chain swing, converting it into a toddler swing. The apparatus has a cloth seat that supports the child across the back, under the arms, and both sides of the upper chest. A chest strap of nylon webbing is sewn into the seat across the back. This chest strap is adjustable and connects via a locking 3-point release safety clasp. The 3-point release safety clasp is attached to an adjustable crotch strap that is sewn into the seat, from the base of the seat to the center back of the seat. There is an additional side strap made of nylon webbing that is sewn into the seat from the right side of the device, down the inside of the seat, over the crotch strap, and up the left side of the seat. This side strap has an adjustable loop on both sides, wherein a steel clasp link is used to attach the device to a standard chain swing. An adjustable strap on the underside of the cloth seat is then secured with a side release clasp to the seat of the standard chain swing, ensuring the child will not slip off the standard chain swing seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this invention is three-fold: 1) temporarily convert astandard chain swing to a toddler swing when there is no toddler swingavailable; 2) provide a child with a transition swing when they are tooold for the toddler swing yet too young for a standard swing; 3) provideadditional security for a child who wants to swing higher than theirguardian feels they are ready to swing.

The traditional toddler swing is a molded plastic bucket apparatus thatis attached to the chains of a swing set. Oftentimes, there are eitherno toddler swings at the public parks or the few that are there are inuse. For liability issues, most private community parks do not evenoffer toddler swings. Additionally, many cities keep their local schoolparks open for use as public playgrounds; there is no need for a toddlerswing at an elementary school park. For this reason, a parent orguardian needs something that easily stores in a diaper bag or strollerand can be quickly attached to any standard chain swing, temporarilyconverting it to a toddler swing.

Unlike prior art devices that are attached to the child (i.e.: harness)then the child is attached to the swing, this device is attached to thestandard chain swing seat. This method of attachment makes it easier toshare a swing with other children. With these prior art devices, theharness has to be removed from the child, put onto the other child,readjusted, and then attached to the chain swing seat. This inventionremains on the chain swing seat, the child is removed and another childis placed in the swing.

Prior art devices also rely on stretchable straps which lose tensionover time, or ropes that tie which can come undone. All the straps inthis device are made of nylon webbing, which will not lose tension.These straps are connected with side release clasps or 3-point safetyclasps. This device relies on the strength of that webbing, the supportof the spring clasp, and the break point of the 3-point clasp, which isalready in use in children's products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of the following detailed description, reference will bemade to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is the front view of the device to temporarily convert a standardchain swing into a toddler swing in accordance with the presentinvention. This view shows the straps of the 3-point clasp on the deviceattached.

FIG. 2 is the side view of the device to temporarily convert a standardchain swing into a toddler swing in accordance with the presentinvention. This view shows how the underside seat strap is attached.

FIG. 3 is the top view of the device to temporarily convert a standardchain swing into a toddler swing in accordance with the presentinvention. This view shows the device with the chest strap open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is the front view of the device. The seat (1A) is a cottonmaterial, sewn with darts at the legs to provide a seat for the child tosit in. The child is then supported around the back, under the arms, andacross the chest with the chest strap (2A). This strap, made of nylonwebbing, is threaded through the connecting ends of a 3-point safetyclasp (see FIGS. 3, 3B & 3C). In order to accommodate the various girthsof the children using the device, additional webbing is left to provideadjustment of the chest strap (2B & 2C). The nylon webbing crotch strap(4A) is sewn from the center back of the seat, along the base of theseat, and then threaded through a tension slip lock (5A) up to the3-point safety clasp (3A). In order to accommodate the various heightsof the children using the device, additional webbing is left to provideadjustment of the crotch strap (2B & 2C). The side strap (6A) is sewn tothe inside of the seat at the top right of the seat, down the side,across the crotch strap (4A), and all the way up the left side of theseat. Additional webbing is left on each end of the side strap (6B &6C). This webbing is then threaded through a tension slip lock (7A & 7B)on each side of the seat, creating a loop in the webbing. Steel platedclasp links (8A & 8B) are then inserted into these loops, which are usedto attach the device to a standard chain swing. The underside seat strap(9A) is made of nylon webbing. It loops around the seat of the standardchain swing and is attached via an adjustable side release clasp (9B)

FIG. 2 is the side view of the device. This figure shows the location ofthe underside seat strap (9A), which is sewn to the bottom outside ofthe cloth seat (1A). This strap provides an additional measure ofsecurity, ensuring the child does not fall off the seat of the standardchain swing. FIG. 2 also shows one of the steel plated clasp links (8B)in its open position. This clasp is hooked through a chain on thestandard chain swing. This hook can be easily removed from the loop ifthe device needs to be washed.

FIG. 3 shows the device with the chest strap (2A) open and fullyextended. Once the device is attached to the standard chain swing asdirected in Para 9, the child is then placed in the cloth seat of thedevice. The crotch strap (4A) is then brought up between the child'slegs. The chest strap (2A) is then secured around the child by insertingboth ends of the 3-point safety clasp (3B & 3C) into the mechanism (3A).To remove the child, unclasp the 3-point safety harness (3A), allowingthe crotch strap (4A) to fall free and remove the child from the seat.Another child may then be quickly placed back into the seat of thedevice and the crotch strap (4A) re-secured.

1. A device that when attached to any standard chain swing willtemporarily convert the swing into a toddler swing.
 2. Said chain swingmust be comprised of 2 chain-link lines with a swing seat (eitherflexible or rigid) suspended between.
 3. The device is comprised of acloth seat, chest strap, continuous side strap, crotch strap, andunderside seat strap.
 4. The cloth seat (as stated in claim 3) is dartedat the legs to create an indented seat for the child to sit in.
 5. Thechest strap (as stated in claim 3) is made of nylon webbing. It issecured with a 3-point clasp, with male-female ends, and is adjustable.6. The crotch strap (as stated in claim 3) is made of nylon webbing. Itis connected to the 3-point clasp via a tension lock, and is adjustable.7. The continuous side strap (as stated in claim 3) is made of nylonwebbing. It is sewn to the inside of the seat, extending from the rightside, down the inside seat, across the crotch strap, and up the leftside.
 8. This side strap extends to either side of the cloth seat withextra webbing at both ends. The extra webbing is then threaded through atension slip lock, creating a loop at both ends of the side strap.
 9. Aspring clip is attached to both sides of the side strap (as stated inclaim 8) through the side strap loop (as stated in claim 8).
 10. Theunderside seat strap (as stated in claim 3) is sewn to the underside ofthe cloth seat. This seat strap has a male-female side release clasp,and is adjustable on one side.
 11. The device is attached to anystandard chain swing in three steps: 1) clasping the underside seatstrap such that the seat of the device is resting on the seat of thestandard swing seat and the underside seat strap is snug with little tono slack; 2) hooking one of the spring clips (as stated in claim 9) toone of the chains in the chain-link line (as stated in claim 2), suchthat there is no slack in the chain-link line, and the seat of thedevice continuous to rest on the seat of the standard swing seat; 3)hooking the opposite spring clip to the opposite chain-link line at anequal number of chains.
 12. After the device has been connected to thestandard chain swing, the child is then placed in the seat of thedevice. The crotch strap is brought up between the child's legs and issecured to the chest strap via the 3-point safety clasp. The crotchstrap and/or chest strap can then be adjusted to fit the child.